Exeter Biomaterials Optical Characterisation Suite - EBOC

维持尖端的研究设施和专业的技术支持是埃克塞特大学提供基础设施的战略的核心，这些基础设施支撑着世界领先的（4*）研究。埃克塞特大学在学术任命和研究设施方面投入了大量资金，以提高EPSRC面临的研究的数量和质量。本提案中所要求的设备项目是通过维护、升级和替换我们EPSRC资助的学者所依赖的关键研究资产的战略过程选择的。E1、E2和E3三个项目共同极大地增强了我们在生物材料、光学技术和成像方面的研究能力。E1：“支持跨学科研究和教育的新型拉曼显微镜”该显微镜将取代大学内许多EPSRC资助的研究小组使用的基本设备。它是一个拉曼显微镜，具有双激光源（532和785 nm）和定制的低波数陷波滤波器，以支持太赫兹拉曼和扩展布里渊区域的应用。它是一个全封闭的显微镜，包括一个用于活细胞成像的顶级孵化系统，可用于分析科学，生物物理学，生物工程，生命科学，医疗保健技术以及超材料。它将促进跨学科研究，以创新和潜在的颠覆性技术能力，例如生物/软材料和纳米材料，这将推动健康与生命科学和二维材料领域的世界领先研究。E2：“研究级HORIBA荧光和紫外-可见-近红外分光光度计”这一项目是我校工程数学与物理科学学院、生命与环境科学学院和生命系统研究所的一项战略投资。本项目为荧光吸光度光谱仪，可作为荧光计使用，也可作为UV-Vis-NIR光谱仪测量吸光度，也可作为测量真实分子指纹的仪器，需要采集荧光和吸光度。应用领域包括物理、化学、生命科学、材料研究、食品科学、地球科学等。它将帮助解决日益增长的英国高科技工业领域的问题，如生物技术、药理学和光学系统。例如，分光光度计将加快智能纳米颗粒传感器开发的实验和验证周期。E3：“用于工程、物理和医学领域的超材料和生物材料研究的超高分辨率3D数字显微镜”该项目将为生物材料、超材料和纳米材料的研究提供成像和表征的重要工具。它补充了现有的埃克塞特成像设施，将实验从毫米级连接到微米级，并分析到亚微米级。这是一台4K超高精度3D数码显微镜，提供超高分辨率成像和拍摄能力，可与台式扫描电子显微镜相媲美，但更容易访问，维护成本更低。它的优点包括6000倍的放大倍率、自动3D形态成像和拼接、大视场、延时拍摄、偏光光源和原位测试能力。它将有助于解决医疗保健技术、先进制造、纳米技术、可再生能源和生物物理系统方面具有挑战性的问题。

Maintaining cutting-edge research facilities and specialised technical support are central to the University of Exeter's strategy for providing an infrastructure which underpins world-leading (4*) research. Exeter has invested heavily in academic appointments and research facilities to increase the volume and quality of EPSRC facing research. The items of equipment requested in this proposal were selected via a strategic process for maintaining, upgrading and replacing key research assets that our EPSRC funded academics rely upon. The three items, E1, E2 and E3 collectively greatly increase our capability in undertaking research in biomaterials, optical technology and imaging.E1: 'A new Raman microscope to underpin cross-disciplinary research and education'This microscope will replace an essential item of equipment that is used by many EPSRC funded research groups across the University. It is a Raman microscope with dual laser source (532 and 785 nm) and tailored low-wave number notch filters to support applications in THz Raman and extend the Brillouin region. It is a fully enclosed microscope and includes a top stage incubation system for live cell imaging, enabling applications in Analytical Science, Biophysics, Bioengineering, Life Sciences, Healthcare Technologies, as well as Metamaterials. It will foster interdisciplinary research into innovative and potentially disruptive technological capabilities e.g. in bio/soft materials and nanomaterials that will drive world-leading research in the health & life sciences and 2D materials.E2: 'Research-grade HORIBA Fluorescence and UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer'This item represents a strategic investment for our College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences and our Living Systems Institute. This item is a fluorescence and absorbance spectrometer that can be used as a fluorimeter, as a UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer to measure absorbance, or as an instrument that measures true molecular fingerprints, which require the acquisition of fluorescence and absorbance. Applications are in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Materials Research, Food Science, Earth Sciences. It will help solve problems within the growing UK high-tech industry sectors of biotechnology, pharmacology and optical systems. For example, the spectrophotometer will speed up the experimentation and validation cycles in smart nanoparticle sensor development.E3: 'Ultra-High Resolution 3D Digital Microscope for Metamaterial and Biomaterial Research in Engineering, Physics and Medicine'This item will provide an essential tool for imaging and characterisation for biomaterial, metamaterial and nanomaterial research. It complements existing Exeter imaging facilities by bridging experiments from the millimetre scale to the micrometre scale, with analysis into sub-micron regimes. This item is a 4K Ultra-High Accuracy 3D Digital Microscope, providing ultra-high resolution imaging and filming capacities, comparable to desktop scanning electron microscopes but with easier access and lower maintenance. Its advantages include 6000x magnification, automatic 3D morphology imaging and stitching, large fields of view, time-lapse filming, polarised light sources and the capability of in-situ testing. It will help address challenging problems in healthcare technologies, advanced manufacturing, nanotechnology, renewable energy, and biophysics systems.